This apparent Tiger Beetle, blew me away. I have never seen anything remotely similar pictured anywhere. Any beetle guys to help? The habitat was wet sand at a vehicle crossing in a mountain creek (picture above). It was very small, I'd guess 7 - 9 mm. The closest species I could find in size and color was Cicindela celeripes, which is tiny but flightless, and the habitat is dry hillsides. This beetle made short flights.

UPDATE:

Ok you beetle fans,
here is the scoop on my little beetle from Barry Knisely, who is the author of
the book (with Tom Shultz) called:

The Biology of Tiger
Beetles and a Guide to the Species of the South Atlantic
States

Bob:
Beautiful photos..... Many of us, even me and other tb enthusiasts have been
fooled by this group of Carabidae, ground beetles. They are of course riparian.
I believe it is genus Elaphrus. In fact, John Acorn (Tiger Beetles of Alberta)
refers to and has a picture of a similar species and mentions it being the only
thing that one could probably confuse with a tiger beetle.
Barry